I have Euro Headlights - Can't Pass VA inspection

[JLJ133]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I need your help.

I have a 1982, U.S. spec 380SL first a bit of history:

1982 imported to the US as a US car.

1998 Exported to the UK as a personal vehicle, Headlights changed to meet UK regulations.

2003 Re-imported to the U.S.

2005 I buy it, as second owner, get VA inspection, register and title in VA

2006/7 Need basic service, go to a really good (non MB indy) to get basic service and VA inspection.

Surprise! It will not pass Inspection in VA, as the headlights are not DOT approved.

Note: The shop is actually a great place, they do good work, but, as they should, are following the regs to the letter, perhaps too much.

Since I know they are not trying to rip me off, and I now have no legally inpected car in VA, what can I do?

Is there a loop hole covering this?

The headlights were required when the car went to the UK for 5 years, 1998-2003, therefore, can I claim them as OE?

Do I try another shop, w/o an inspection sticker (may be a problem)

Finally, the lights in the bumper no longer work, since they are not allowed in the UK, and VA law says all installed lights have to work. Second problem

Can anyone lend me advice?

Jim "I can't believe I have to drive a camry" Johnson

[Michael K]

I've got three vehicles in Virginina, one of which is a Euro. I'll dig through the regs later, but I'm pretty sure the shop's understanding of "not DOT approved" is outdated. While what they're saying, I believe, was true until recently, it no longer is. I'm considering fitting Euro lights to our SL, and need to check this issue anyway. I'll do it shortly.

[riethoven]

Even if you have Euro headlights, they may be UK spec. which is for RHD. Look at the headlights and if the wedge shape is going up towards the right as you are looking at the front of the car, they are UK spec.

Look for a used set of US spec. headlights and swap them out for inspections. I know of Porsche owners in CA that swap exhaust systems and more when they go in for emissions inspections. I have Euro lights on my W123, but a friend of mine inspects my car and all he looks for is that they work.

[Michael K]

Here's the code... good luck.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+reg+19VAC30-70-140

[softconsult]

Man am I glad I don't live in VA. I read the regulation. What a bureacratic joke!

Tennessee has no vehicle inspections. I actually think a basic inspection requirement is a good thing for safety reasons, but that regulation is government gone wild. My Euros with the relays and heavy wiring would never pass.

Steve

[ctaylor738]

Take it to Seven Corners Sunoco for inspection. Scrape the Reject sticker off first and invent a story.

[H-townbenzoboy]

Originally Posted by riethoven

Even if you have Euro headlights, they may be UK spec. which is for RHD. Look at the headlights and if the wedge shape is going up towards the right as you are looking at the front of the car, they are UK spec.

Look for a used set of US spec. headlights and swap them out for inspections.

If you have lights intended for the UK market, you want to get rid of them anyway after you do the swap to US spec to pass inspection. The beam pattern was intended for the RHD country so it would light up signs and pedestrians on the left side of the road. Now, you're in a LHD country, and your lights are likely blinding oncoming drivers, and that's no good, and potentially unsafe. You can't just simply re-aim the lights, it all has to do with the glass lens pattern.

See these two pics using the lamps from "low spec" 1976-1982 W123s.
LHD:


RHD:

[MTUpower]

If you want to buy my set of american SL lights I'll sell them for $100 plus shipping. Work fine and in good shape. Includes turn signals, so the swap is as pull euros/ rewire/ install usa..

[page62]

Originally Posted by MTUpower

If you want to buy my set of american SL lights I'll sell them for $100 plus shipping. Work fine and in good shape. Includes turn signals, so the swap is as pull euros/ rewire/ install usa..

Now here's a deal you'd be CRAZY to pass up!!!

[GradyService]

Originally Posted by ctaylor738

Take it to Seven Corners Sunoco for inspection. Scrape the Reject sticker off first and invent a story.

Exactly. No sense in spending several hundred bucks for new headlamp assemblys, and then you have to put them in! Just go to another shop
(the one above sounds okay, provided its small, with an older owner-manager, and doesn't know squat about MB's.), peel off your rejection sticker (In NC we don't even have anything like that. People drive for YEARS with both expired registration and inspection, and NEVER get caught. Of course I live in a small rural area, where law enforcement is closer to The Dukes of Hazzard than CSI.), make up some story about how your windshield was broken, and you bought a used one, and had a friend install it for you, and forgot about the inspection sticker, etc. Just get the blamed sticker, and then you can be back in your SL, enjoying that Motoring Perfection, which is truly a Mercedes-Benz SL.
Thanks, and God Bless,
Dave.

[jaybro]

Originally Posted by H-townbenzoboy

If you have lights intended for the UK market, you want to get rid of them anyway after you do the swap to US spec to pass inspection. The beam pattern was intended for the RHD country so it would light up signs and pedestrians on the left side of the road. Now, you're in a LHD country, and your lights are likely blinding oncoming drivers, and that's no good, and potentially unsafe. You can't just simply re-aim the lights, it all has to do with the glass lens pattern.

See these two pics using the lamps from "low spec" 1976-1982 W123s.
LHD:


RHD:

townbenzboy You are 100% correct get rid of those UK RH drive lights before you cause an accident JLJ133

jaybro

[JLJ133]

MTU Power, Sent you an e-mail. I need the lights if no one else has napped them up.

Jim

[MTUpower]

Got the email. If I can help, I do. Many times I have parts here in south florida cheap; sometimes not cheap but still have parts.